potential investments. Through modeling investments decision-makers can make informed decisions and evaluate potential alternatives. Network simulators Discrete event simulation is used in computer network to simulate new protocols, different system architectures (distributed, hierarchical, centralised, P2P) before actual deployment. It is possible to define different evaluation metrics, such as service time, bandwidth, dropped packets, resource consumption, and so on. See also System modeling approaches: Finite-state machines and Markov chains Stochastic process and a special case, Markov process Queueing theory and in particular birth–death process Discrete Event System Specification Transaction-level modeling (TLM) Computational techniques: Computer experiment Computer simulation Monte Carlo method Variance reduction Pseudo-random number generator Software: List of computer simulation software List of discrete event simulation software Disciplines: Industrial engineering Network simulation References Further reading Stochastic simulation Events (computing)